Dec. 16, 2005

NORFOLK, VA - Head coach Steve Martin and his Old Dominion Wrestling Monarchs host the University of Northern Iowa Panthers and the Citadel Bulldogs this Saturday at the ODU Fieldhouse. ODU will dual UNI at 3:00pm, and is scheduled to dual the Citadel immediately following at 5:00pm. The Monarchs are 2-1 in dual competition beating Slippery Rock and Maryland at the Avalon Duals earlier this season. ODU fell to Edinboro, the host of the Avalon Duals.

"We're looking forward to our first home crowd, and getting people in the stands," assistant coach Cory Ace comments, "we just want to come out and perform for our fans in really our first chance to showcase a piece of our future."

Senior Shanon Slack will have some tough competition this weekend as he is scheduled to take on UNI's C.J Ettelson, who happens to be ranked 19th in the country at 141 pounds as well as being a returning 2004 national qualifier for the Panthers. Slack will then face the Citadel's Sean Markey who is ranked 15th in the country with an 11-2 record at 141 pounds. Robby Gosnell has his work cut out for him as he competes at 165 against 8th ranked Nick Baima.

Saturday's match marks the first time Old Dominion has ever wrestled Northern Iowa in a dual setting. The Monarch's are 3-2-0 all-time against the Bulldogs beating them last year by a 26-16 margin.

"We will come out, compete hard, and put on a good show," Ace explains.

The match will take place Saturday December 17, 2005 at the Old Dominion University Fieldhouse at 3:00pm; admission to the event is free.